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UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES E. BART-RAM, OF FREDONIA, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-BASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,911, dated April 4, 1882. Application filed January 16, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may cancer-n Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BARTRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fredonia, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have made certain Improvements in Fruit-Baskets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a knockdown folding return basket used for transporting grapes to and the finer kinds of fruits, and which can be returned folded together or flattened out, taking up but little space; and the invention relates to the construction as hereinafter fully explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or blank of the basket when opened out flat; Fig. 2, a perspective of the basket ready for use.

The construction of the basketis as follows: Two flat thin pieces of veneer, wood, A and B,

are used, one, A, giving the long way of the basket, the other, B, representing the sides,

&c., tacked together at the bottom by the crossing of one piece over the other, as shown in Fig. 1, a a representing the tacks or fastenings. All the outer edges-that is, the edges of the upper part of the basketwhen put together, are bound with strips of tin b I) or other suitable metal, and at the corners where the sides and end pieces come together holes b b are made through the tin and basketpieces, and a short piece of wire, 0, is put through each two corner-pieces and the ends of the wire twisted, so as to make a secure fastening- Instead of wire, rings or string may 5 be used, if desired. The short piece of wire 0 is put into each corner when the basket is spread out flat, as in Fig. 1, with a short twist to hold it 5 or all the corners of all the baskets may be fastened at one time, the wires cut in lengths and put up in bundles for that purpose.

The handle of the basket is also made of a piece of wire, D, bent in shape and each end put through a hole, d, in the center of the top edge of the side pieces, as in Fig. 2, and after projecting down through these the ends which 5 come outside the basket hook into a piece of wood, E, also of veneer, fastened across the bottom of the basket, with ears or ends coming up each side, as shown in Fig. 2. The basket is then complete. After being relieved of its contents it is knocked down by unhooking the handle D from the ears of the piece E, the wires 0 untwisted, and the sides and ends spread out flat. Then they are piled together in bundles or otherwise, the handles tied together, and they are ready for reshipment back to the shipper, fruitpacker, or forwarder. This arrangement saves the baskets, prevents damage and loss of them, and saves in space and consequently in freight by rail or otherwise. They would be very useful for picnics, as being easily brought home.

I claim- In a knockdown fruit-basket, the combination of the veneers A B, crossed and fastened together at the bottom, the upper edges bound with tin strips 1) b, and with holes I) in each corner, with wire or string 0 twisted therein to hold said corners together, and the bottom piece, E, and attached or connecting wire handie D, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

O. E. BARTRAM.

Witnesses:

L. J. GAWNE, O. M. GAWNE. 

